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M-Pesa to Integrate ADI Chain for Secure, Scalable Mobile Money Services
M-Pesa Africa has formed a strategic partnership with the ADI Foundation to integrate its sovereign-grade ADI Chain blockchain. This integration across M-Pesa’s eight African markets is set to enhance operations for over 60 million users.
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Under this partnership, ADI Chain will be integrated into M-Pesa’s platforms across eight key African markets, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana. The deployment will establish new digital rails to facilitate faster cross-border settlements and stablecoin transactions for individuals and SMEs.
Strengthening the Backbone of Africa’s Mobile Money Ecosystem
M-Pesa Africa currently serves over 60 million users, facilitating everything from person-to-person transfers and merchant payments to salary disbursements and utility bill collections. In many communities, mobile money remains the primary gateway to formal financial services, especially where traditional banking infrastructure is limited or non-existent.
When these systems function seamlessly, economic activity flows smoothly. When they fail—even briefly—the effects are immediate and far-reaching. The partnership with the ADI Foundation reflects a growing recognition that as mobile money scales, the infrastructure supporting it must be built for resilience, security and long-term reliability.
From Rapid Innovation to Sustainable Digital Infrastructure
The involvement of the ADI Foundation signals a shift in how mobile money platforms are approaching technological evolution. This current strategic focus is on strengthening foundational digital systems, not just rapid innovation. It ensures they can scale to handle higher transaction volumes and complex use cases without compromising user trust.
These are not abstract technical concerns. For small businesses, households and public services that depend on uninterrupted access to funds, system reliability directly affects livelihoods and service delivery.
Building on M-Pesa’s Legacy of Financial Inclusion
Since its launch in 2007, M-Pesa has been a global pioneer in financial inclusion. It has enabled millions to bypass traditional banking barriers through mobile devices. This new partnership builds on that legacy by introducing decentralised capabilities designed to meet modern regulatory, security and compliance standards.
“M-Pesa has been amazing in terms of financial inclusion,” said Huy Nguyen Trieu, a council member on the ADI Foundation’s board of advisers.
“Our view is that we can push it even further by providing the right digital infrastructure. The foundation’s systems can serve as the building blocks to accelerate digital transformation.”
Rising Demand for Digital Assets Fuels the Move
The partnership comes at a time of surging demand for digital assets across Africa. Data from Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission shows that the country recorded about $50 billion in crypto transactions in the year ending June 2024, with many users adopting stablecoins to hedge against currency volatility.
This trend has strengthened the case for integrating blockchain and regulated digital assets into mainstream financial platforms such as mobile money services.
Sovereign-Grade Blockchain for Regulated Markets
Founded in 2024 by Sirius International Holding as technology arm of UAE-based International Holding Company (IHC), the ADI Foundation focuses on developing sovereign-grade digital systems.
ADI Chain is engineered to function within national regulatory, governance, and security frameworks, unlike retail-focused blockchains. This design makes it a suitable foundation for large-scale financial infrastructure and public-private sector applications.
Stablecoin Rollout to Power Cross-Border Commerce
A key element of the rollout, expected by early 2026, is the integration of a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin. Issued by First Abu Dhabi Bank and IHC under the oversight of the UAE Central Bank, the stablecoin is expected to provide a practical blueprint for how mobile money platforms can support cross-border trade with greater price stability.
The initiative is poised to reduce transaction friction, improve settlement speed and lower costs for businesses operating across African markets.
Driving the Next Phase of Africa’s Digital Payments
Commenting on the partnership, Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO of M-Pesa Africa, said:
“We are excited to partner with ADI Foundation to tap into their expertise around new technologies and how these can transform financial services.”
The ADI Foundation currently works with partners in 20 countries and supports more than 50 institutional projects globally. For the foundation, the M-Pesa agreement represents its most significant step yet toward its ambition of onboarding one billion people to blockchain by 2030.
This collaboration positions M-Pesa Africa at the forefront of Africa’s evolving digital finance landscape. It converges mobile money, blockchain, and regulated stablecoins to deliver faster, safer, and more inclusive financial services across the continent.
